Verna (Klapwyk) Gardner
Marriages
Howard Gardner - 1951
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 7B Obituary - April 5, 2017
Verna Klapwyk-Gardner, 85,
passed away peacefully at
Valley View Hospital on
March 21, 2017.
Verna was born in Fruita,
CO on February 11, 1932, to
John and Viola Klapwyk. The
second of three children, she
grew up on a farm north of
Fruita and attended Fruita Union High School. After marring
Howard Gardner in 1951, they moved around Colorado a bit
and finally settled in Glenwood Springs in 1962 with their two
sons, Robert H. and John M. They divorced in 1973. Verna then
worked various jobs in Glenwood Springs and was most proud
of her longtime career with Garfield County Social Services.
Verna loved her family. She was preceded in death by her
parents; her older brother, Bill Klapwyk and his wife, Norma
Klapwyk. She is survived by her sister, Shirley Ogden (Walter)
of Arizona; sons, Robert H. Gardner (Deborah) of Basalt and
John M. Gardner (Jeri) of South Carolina as well as six
grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many nieces and
nephews.
There will be an informal, graveside celebration of her life on
the afternoon of May 28th at Elmwood Cemetery in Fruita, CO.
Because of Verna’s love of animals, the family requests that, in
lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Colorado
Animal Rescue.
The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff of
Heritage Park Care Center as well as the doctors and nurses in
the Critical Care Unit of Valley View Hospital for their
kindness and compassion in caring for Verna.
